Jane Langton

Jane Gillson Langton (b. December 30, 1922 in Boston, Massachusetts) is an American mystery writer and author of children's literature.

Education

Langton studied astronomy at Wellesley College and the University of Michigan, receiving a bachelor's degree in 1944. She received an M.A. in art history from the University of Michigan in 1945, and another M.A. from Radcliffe College in 1948. She studied at the Boston Museum School from 1958 to 1959.

Books

In 1961 Langton wrote and illustrated her first book for children, "The Majesty of Grace", a story about a young girl during the Depression who is certain she will some day be Queen of England. Langton has since written a children's series, The Hall Family Chronicles, and the Homer Kelly murder mystery novels. She has also written several stand-alone novels and picture books.

The Hall Family Chronicles

NB: The model for the Hall Family house is located at 148 Walden Street, Concord, MA.
*"The Diamond in the Window" (1962) Two Concord children begin to share dreams involving their town's literary heroes.
*"The Swing in the Summerhouse" (1967)
*"The Astonishing Stereoscope" (1971)
*"The Fledgling" (1980)
*"The Fragile Flag" (1984)
*"The Time Bike" (2000)
*"The Mysterious Circus" (2005)
*"The Dragon Tree" (2008)

The Homer Kelly novels

*"The Transcendental Murder" (1964) aka "The Minuteman Murder"
*"Dark Nantucket Noon" (1975)
*"The Memorial Hall Murder" (1978)
*"Natural Enemy" (1982)
*"Emily Dickinson Is Dead" (1984)
*"Good and Dead" (1986)
*"Murder at the Gardner" (1988)
*"The Dante Game" (1991)
*"God in Concord" (1992)
*"Divine Inspiration" (1993)
*"The Shortest Day: Murder at the Revels" (1995)
*"Dead as a Dodo" (1996)
*"The Face on the Wall" (1998)
*"The Thief of Venice" (1999)
*"Murder at Monticello" (2001)
*"The Escher Twist" (2002)
*"The Deserter: Murder at Gettysburg" (2003)
*"Steeplechase" (2005)

Other novels

*"The Majesty of Grace" (1961) aka "Her Majesty Grace Jones"
*"The Boyhood of Grace Jones" (1972)
*"Paper Chains" (1977)
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Picture books

*"The Hedgehog Boy: A Latvian Folktale" (1985)
*"Salt: From a Russian Folktale" (1992)
*"The String of Pearls" (1994)
*"Saint Francis and the Wolf" (2007)

Awards

Langton's novel "The Fledgling" is a Newbery Honor book. Her novel "Emily Dickinson is Dead" was nominated for an Edgar Award and received a Nero Award.

Personal life

Langton lives in Lincoln, Massachusetts near the town of Concord, the setting of many of her novels. Her husband, Bill, died in 1997. Langton has three adult sons: Chris, David and Andy.

External links

* [http://www.janelangton.com Jane Langton's official website]